Like all Apple^® products, iPhone^® devices are solid investments that will hold their resale value for years. When it’s time to upgrade to the newest model, you can usually sell or trade in your old iPhone to defray the cost of a new device. However, there are a few steps you should take first to protect your data and personal information.

What You Should Do Before Selling an iPhone

1. Don’t Manually Delete Data

You’ll probably want to make sure your messages, contacts, and photos are off of the phone before selling it, but deleting everything manually will also remove them from the iCloud^® servers and your other Apple products. Instead, make sure everything you want to keep is backed up, and then proceed to erase the contents of the phone itself.

2. Unregister the Device

Before selling the phone, you’ll want to disassociate it from your account to ensure your messages and data aren’t sent to the device. To unregister the iPhone with iTunes^® before the factory reset, tap “Settings,” then your name, and choose “View Your Apple ID.” After entering your password, scroll down to “iTunes in the Cloud,” and then choose “Remove This Device.” You can also use a computer with iTunes. Start by clicking “Account,” and then “View My Account” in the top menu bar. You’ll probably have to enter your password before scrolling down to “Manage Devices” in the “iTunes in the Cloud” section. From the list of devices associated with your iTunes account, click “remove” next to the iPhone you’re selling.

3. Restore the Phone to Factory Settings

Restoring the phone will erase all of your data and settings preferences, essentially taking it back to the way it was when you first took it out of the box. In the “Settings” app, click on “General,” go to “Reset,” and choose “Erase All Content and Settings.”

As the area’s leading Apple product specialists, Experimac Canton OH buys and sells premium hardware without the high prices. If you’re hoping to sell your old iPhone, their friendly team will give you a fair price and cash on the spot. Visit their website to learn more about selling or trading your Apple products, follow their Twitter page for updates and news, or call (330) 409-7005 if you have any questions.